Functional Genomics

The Functional Genomics group develops and utilizes state of the art mass spectrometry methods to provide metabolite and protein characterization for JBEI research. This work includes identification of novel biomass-degrading enzymes from compost samples for the Deconstruction division, characterization of the cytosolic and organelle proteomes for the Feedstocks division, and quantification of key metabolites and proteins in engineered microbes for the Biofuels and Bioproducts division. Research in the Functional Genomics Group focuses on developing methods that speed iterations of the metabolic engineering cycle (design, build, test, learn) and help characterize biomass and biomass deconstruction.

Schematic of targeted proteomics technique in which a peptide mass and a specific fragment mass are selected for SRM mass spectrometry analysis to identify and quantify a target protein. (Image from Christopher Petzold)